Stephanos 34 was bishop of Sougdaia (Suroz, on the south-east coast of the Crimea); in 787 he attended the Second Council of Nikaia (the Seventh Ecumenical Council) and probably attended all eight sessions, from 24 September to 23 November 787: Mansi XII 993-XIII 486. His name is given as "Theophanes" at XII 994, but the Latin version at XII 993 has "Stephanus", and elsewhere he is always "Stephanos". In the lists of those present at the first and seventh sessions he is styled Στεφάνου (Θεοφάνους, at XII 994) ἐπισκόπου Σουγδάων: Mansi XII 994 (the Latin version, at XII 993, reads: "Stephano episcopo Sugdaorum"), XIII 365. Elsewhere he is styled Στέφανος ὁ ὁσιώτατος ἐπίσκοπος Σουγδαίων or similar: Mansi XII 1095, XIII 137 (ἐπίσκοπος πόλεως Σουγδάων), XIII 384 (ἐπίσκοπος Σουγδάων). At the second session he spoke in support of the traditional veneration of icons as described in statements from pope Hadrian I (Hadrianos 1) and condemned iconoclasts: Mansi XII 1095. At the fourth session he subscribed the statements read out from the Fathers in support of the veneration of icons: Mansi XIII 137. At the seventh session he subscribed the statement of the faith adopted by the Council: Mansi XIII 384. On Sougdaia, cf. A. A. Vasiliev, The Goths in the Crimea (Cambridge, Mass., 1936), pp. 41, 101, Beck, Kirche, pp. 176.

He is perhaps to be identified with St Stephen of Suroz, though this is difficult chronologically; see BHG 1671 (Greek epitome), and, for the old Russian version, V. Vasilievskij, Trudy (St Petersburg, 1908-1930), vol. III, pp. 72-98. See further PmbZ 6997 and 7025 and ODB III, p. 1954.

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